devolution

Question 1

Devolution

Answer 1

The delegation of some governmental powers, known as devolved powers, away from the centre (parliament) to the regions, which have their own elected assemblies/parliaments that make many laws themselves.

Question 2

electoral systems used in different places

Answer 2

Scotland and Wales use the additional member system (AMS) while Northern Ireland uses the single transferrable vote (STV).

Question 3

Do all regions have the same powers?

Answer 3

The Scottish Parliament had more powers right from the start including tax-raising powers and the ability to pass legislation in designated areas, which is sometimes termed primary legislative powers.

Question 4

Scotland Act 1998:

Answer 4

gave the Scottish Parliament primary legislative powers in a number of domestic areas, including law and order, health, education, transport and the environment. It could also vary the rate of income tax by up to 3p in the pound — the Scottish variable rate (SVR).

Question 5

Scotland Act 2012:

Answer 5

transferred significant tax-raising powers to the Scottish Parliament, most notably the ability to raise or lower income tax by up to 10p in the pound — the Scottish rate of income tax (SRIT). It also devolved stamp duty and landfill taxes to Scotland, and allowed the Scottish government to borrow up to £5 billion and set up its own tax authority, Revenue Scotland.

Question 6

Scotland Act 2016:

Answer 6

involved a further major transfer of powers, including authority over areas such as equal opportunities, abortion law, speed limits and gaming machines.

Question 7

Has the Scottish parliament had an impact on the lives of Scottish people?

Answer 7

Overall, in its relatively short life, the Scottish Parliament has passed over 300 pieces of legislation

Question 7

Scottish Parliament and government

Answer 7

The legislative body and executive established in Scotland following the 1997 referendum, now elected on a 5-yearly basis with elections due in 2021 and 2026.

Question 8

referendum on Scottish devolution in 1979

Answer 8

although it resulted in a narrow victory for the ‘Yes’ vote, was unsuccessful because the legislation required that a minimum of 40% of all registered electors must support devolution for the result to stand. In the event, only 32.9% of voters did so

Question 9

Government of Wales Act1998:

Answer 9

set up the Welsh Assembly, which lacked primary legislative powers but did have the ability to devise secondary legislation in specified areas, including agriculture, fisheries, education, housing and highways.

Question 10

Government of Wales Act2006:

Answer 10

enabled the Assembly to request further powers from Westminster and to gain primary legislative powers if approved by a referendum. It also set up a proper executive body, the Welsh Assembly government

Question 11

Wales Act2014:

Answer 11

represented the first major transfer of some tax-raising powers to the Welsh government. These included stamp duty, business rates and landfill tax, and enabled the Welsh government to replace them with taxes specific to Wales.

Question 12

Devolution for Northern Ireland

Answer 12

Devolution for Northern Ireland has taken place against the backdrop of a period of sectarian violence known as ‘the Troubles’, which involved terrorist campaigns by both loyalists/unionists and republican/nationalist paramilitaries

Question 13

The Good Friday Agreement 1998

Answer 13

involved a promise of a return to devolved government, but also other measures designed to embed the peace process. These included prisoner release for convicted paramilitary terrorists, reductions in the number of British Army troops stationed in Northern Ireland and civil rights measures

Question 14

when was the Northern Ireland Assembly suspended

Answer 14

suspended between 2017 and 2020 due to the collapse of the power-sharing agreement between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin.

Question 15

how is devolution in northern Ireland distinct from that in Scotland and Wales? - party structure

Answer 15

The party structure is completely different in Northern Ireland. It comprises parties from both communities: the DUP and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) on the unionist side, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Sinn Féin on the nationalist side, along with the non-sectarian centrist Alliance Party and the Green Party

Question 16

Number of elected members
Electoral system
for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Answer 16

Scotland, 129, AMS,
Senedd, 60, AMS
Northern Ireland, 90, STV

Question 17

Has devolution worked well in the UK? Yes

Answer 17

It has allowed regional political differences to be recognised. For example, Scotland is traditionally more left-leaning. The Scottish Parliament therefore has increased the income tax rate for the highest earners to 46p in the pound for those earning over £150,000 pa compared to 45p in the rest of the UK.

It has proved popular with voters. This has been particularly true for Wales when comparing the referendum results of 1997 and 2011.

It has been vital to enabling the peace process in Northern Ireland

encouraged innovation in policy-making and enabled devolved assemblies to function as ‘legislative laboratories’. Administrations can learn from policies launched elsewhere and then replicate them if they think they will be effective. For example, the Scottish government’s 2006 decision to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces was then extended to Wales, Northern Ireland and England

Question 18

Has devolution worked well in the UK? No

Answer 18

led to inequalities in the provision and cost of public services within the UK. For example, university tuition is free in Scotland but costs over £9,000 pa in England. Prescriptions are free in Wales and Scotland but not in England.

Devolution has encouraged demands for greater separation and full independence, and therefore weakened the unity of the UK.

The SNP has called for a second independence referendum, suggesting devolution had not muted demands by many for full independence.

Policy ideas, including the banning of smoking in enclosed public places or a 5p charge on plastic bags first brought in by the Welsh Assembly, would have happened anyhow via Westminster.

Question 19

arguments for an English parlaiment

Answer 19

would provide a permanent answer to the West Lothian question and end the process of EVEL.

would further reduce the centralisation of power in Westminster - reduce the dominance of London over UK politics.

devolution has worked well in the other parts of the UK.

Question 20

arguments against an English parliament

Answer 20

would dominate the UK landscape - contains 85% of the total population and generates the bulk of national GDP.

there would be much argument over its location.

expensive to create an additional level of government

lack of public enthusiasm. a modest attempt to introduce a regional assembly for the north east was heavily rejected by voters in a 2004 referendum by 78%.